WASHINGTON/TEHRAN/JERUSALEM — US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is approaching a critical juncture in the Iran war over whether to resume massive attacks to bring the conflict to a close, US online news outlet Axios reported.

"I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not? It's a big decision. Anything could happen with me," Trump told Axios.

Though Trump has made similar threats before, his comments came ahead of a planned meeting next Tuesday with leaders from six Gulf countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, said the report, adding that the meeting could shape the next phase of the war, including whether to make another push for diplomacy or intensify military action.

The six Gulf countries are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.

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If Trump wants to resume major combat operations, he would need the support of his regional allies, the report said. Trump has said several times in recent days that the war will end soon.

The report also quoted some US officials who warned that the conflict has settled into an unsustainable, neither-war-nor-peace stalemate, and that they believe Trump could return to major combat operations after the midterms if a deal is not reached by then. 

IRGC: 'Violating' hit in Hormuz

The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said early Friday a "violating" oil tanker that sought "illegal" passage through the Strait of Hormuz was struck the previous night and brought to a halt.

In a statement published on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News, the navy said the Togo-flagged oil tanker, named "Trend," was stopped after it caught fire following the strike.

The vessel attempted to cross the strait "illegally" after being "deceived and provoked" by the US Army, it said, warning that attempting illegal passage through the waterway will lead to nothing but "destruction."

The navy added that its forces are still in control of the Strait of Hormuz with strength and will not let passage by any "aggressor."

Iran orders Swedish diplomat out 

Iran on Thursday ordered a Swedish diplomat to leave the country within 48 hours in response to Sweden's expulsion of an official at the Iranian embassy in Stockholm, while rejecting Sweden's accusations against Tehran as "baseless."

Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Alireza Yousefi, director general for Western Europe at the ministry, summoned the Swedish ambassador to Iran on Thursday morning and lodged a strong protest against Sweden's "destructive" policies, particularly its "inappropriate rhetoric about Iran and hosting of anti-Iran terrorist groups and individuals."

During the meeting, the Swedish ambassador was informed that a Swedish diplomat had been ordered to leave Iran within 48 hours "due to reasons that were explained to the ambassador," the statement said.

Sweden's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it had summoned Iran's ambassador and asked an official at the Iranian embassy to leave the country over activities "not compatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer later told state broadcaster SVT that the decision was made over Iran's alleged activities against "Jewish and Israeli interests" in Sweden.

Iran's Foreign Ministry rejected Sweden's claims, saying Stockholm had, "in an unjustified move that is in violation of international law, compelled a diplomat serving at Iran's embassy in Stockholm to leave the country without any justified reason."

Iran summons German ambassador over senior officials' 'inappropriate' positions

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned German Ambassador to Tehran Axel Dittmann Wilhelm over Berlin's hostile approach toward Iran and the German embassy's meddling in the country's internal affairs.

At the meeting, Yousefi rejected recent "baseless" anti-Iran claims by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, relaying Tehran's strong protest against Berlin's "unjustified and destructive" approach towards Iran, the ministry said.

He also highlighted Germany's arms and political support for Israel, describing the German government "as complicit in the genocide and other crimes committed by Israel against Palestinians and other nations in the region," it added.

The ministry also said that the German envoy was summoned due to "certain interventionist actions" by the German embassy in Tehran.

Netanyahu vows to topple Iran's government, eliminate Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel would topple Iran's government, eliminate Hamas and continue its campaign against Hezbollah.

"We will eliminate Hamas, and first and foremost we will defeat the regime in Iran. We will topple it. It will fall," Netanyahu said at a ceremony honoring members of Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency.

He also said that one of Israel's objectives, nearly three years into the war, was to continue pursuing Palestinians involved in the Hamas-led Oct 7, 2023 attack. "No one is immune," he warned.

Netanyahu is seeking a record seventh term in Israel's October election, with opinion polls showing his Likud party trailing its main centrist rival.